The 2024 Paralympics was marred by significant controversy. Italian rower Giacomo Perini was disqualified from the men's PR1 single sculls final for using a banned communication device. This led to a shift in the medal positions, with Australian rower Erik Horrie moving up from fourth place to bronze.
Perini, who initially finished first, lost his gold medal when officials found a device, possibly a phone or walky-talky, attached to his boat. They believed the device gave Perini an unfair advantage in the race by providing real-time feedback and instructions.
Perini's disqualification impacted the results, benefiting Horrie, who finished fourth. Horrie received the bronze medal, and British rower Benjamin Pritchard received the silver medal.
Official Communication – PR1 Men’s Single Sculls 🚨 #Paris2024#Rowingpic.twitter.com/rtY42y46Jb
— World Rowing (@WorldRowing) September 1, 2024
"There was a situation that happened,' Horrie told Nine.
"World Rowing and Paralympics officials saw it and then made the decision [to disqualify Perini], and I was lucky enough to come away with the bronze,' he was quoted as saying by Dail Mail.
"That's all I can say really. It's the joys of sport. There are rules, and as athletes, we stick to them."
"I'm just excited about getting the bronze. I'm at my fourth Games and I can say that I've medalled at every single Paralympics that I've been to."
"Mate, this means so much," he said.
"All the sacrifices my family have made [and] putting up with me in the good times and the bad times. As with all athletes, there are a lot of bad times with training and injury.
"So, this is for [my wife] Michelle and the kids back home."
"It's one of those things that's hard to explain."
Pereni, who was at his first Olympics, had his right leg amputated to the recurrence of a bone tumour. He was at his first Paralympics after a brief career in equestrianism.
"Water is the great metaphor of life, with everything that flows and that must be left behind to reach the essential," he had even said.